Simple Diversions

A/N: Here is the chapter you have all been waiting for! I just want to thank everyone single one of my reviewers. You may be few, but your reviews are many and always touch my heart. Thanks to all of you, 'Simple Diversions' has become my most read and reviewed story yet! Thank you again for your tremendous support :')

Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist or any of the characters or ideas.

Chapter 14

A loud bang resonated through the house and Mia screamed as she felt Bortaccelli's grip loosen.

"No!" Mia screamed as she looked around.

But something wasn't right...

"Patrick?" Mia said with confusion as she looked to see Jane still standing in front of her.

Jane opened his eyes as he realised that he wasn't in any pain, but Bill probably wasn't going to be a threat anymore.

"Mia," Jane began as he walked over to her. "Are you alright?"

"Me?!" Mia asked incredulously. "What about you?! You just got shot at!"

Suddenly Daniel burst into the room with David in tow. They both had kevlar vests and their guns in their hands.

"Is everyone OK?" Daniel asked a little breathlessly.

"Sort of," Jane replied as he looked down at Bill who was lying in a puddle of blood. "I think Bill has had better days though."

"Well, you can thank David for that one." Daniel said as he patted David on the shoulder. "He took the shot."

"Thank you very much," Jane said as he shakily nodded towards David.

"You're welcome," David replied as he holstered his weapon.

"Where did Bortaccelli go?" Daniel asked as he realised that the woman had indeed disappeared.

"I don't know," Mia replied. "She was here a second ago."

"Let's go check the perimeter." Daniel said quickly as he and David ran from the room.

Mia and Jane were left in an oddly tense silence.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Jane asked as he took one of Mia's trembling hands in his.

"I'm fine," Mia whispered as her teary eyes met Jane's worried ones.

Jane pulled Mia into a tight hug as she started to cry.

"I was s-so worried," Mia sobbed into Jane's shoulder. "I thought I'd l-lost you P-Patrick."

"Shh," Jane soothed as he ran his fingers through her reddish-brown curls. "I'm right here beautiful. I'm not going anywhere."

"You better not," Mia said with a playful giggle as her tears started to subside.

Mia pulled away as she put her hands on either side of Jane's face and he placed his hands on her hips.

"Seriously though," Mia said as she rubbed her thumb up and down on Jane's cheek. "As soon as I heard the gun I thought..."

"Shh," Jane replied as he rested his forehead against Mia's. "I'm here now. We're both fine."

Jane lowered his head a little as he captured Mia's trembling lips with his own.

The kiss was slow and full of passion as they let all of their emotions shine through.

Finally they pulled away and Jane ran his hand down Mia's cheek one last time as they heard foot steps coming towards them.

"Are you guys OK?" Lisbon asked as she came over to the two.

"Yes Lisbon," Jane replied reassuringly. "We're both fine."

"Good," Lisbon had a small smile as she heard this. "I thought I told you to call if anything happened."

"Yes, well, we were kind of busy," Jane replied. "You know, being held hostage and all."

"Whatever," Lisbon replied with mock anger. "I want both of you to get checked over by the paramedics."

"But..." Jane began, but Mia interrupted him.

"Of course we will Teresa." Mia gave Jane a look. "We appreciate your concern."

Lisbon was a little suspicious about what was going on between Jane and Mia, but only replied by saying, "I'll go and see if they found Bortaccelli."

Lisbon left the room and Mia turned and hit Jane in the arm.

"Ow!" Jane complained as he rubbed his arm. "What was that for?"

"We almost got caught dork," Mia replied, but her playful grin dulled the anger in her words.

"Well it's a good thing we didn't then." Jane said with his signature smile. But his smile started to fade as he noticed a faint red line on Mia's neck where Bortaccelli had held the knife.

"What's wrong?" Mia asked with concern as she saw Jane's face drop.

Jane lifted his right hand and with a feather light touch, he ran his index finger along the red line from beginning to end.

"I'm sorry," Jane said softly. "I'm so sorry that she came so close to killing you."

"Hey, look at me," Mia said with a small smile. "We're both alive and going to see the paramedics. Come on."

Mia took Jane's hand as she started pulling him towards the door and outside to where the ambulance was parked.

xxxxx

Daniel and his team had found Bortaccelli halfway down the road trying to make a clean get away.

Needless to sat she didn't succeed in escaping.

Jane and Mia had both been given the all clear by the paramedics and both teams had agreed to meet back at CBI for a debrief.

Jane and Mia were sitting on the worn leather couch in the corner, Daniel and Lisbon were having their own conversation, and the team members had all started conversations amongst themselves with their similar counter parts.

"Good work today guys," Daniel suddenly said loudly. "We had a few close calls, but we solved it in the end."

"Who would've thought Bill and Bortaccelli had done it together?" Lisa said from her seat next to Rigsby.

"Yeah, and over something as simple as dumping paint into a stream." Alistair McFarley added as he stood next to Grace.

"At least we solved the case." David chimed in with a large grin. "Who's up for closed case pizza?"

There was a chorus of agreement from everyone. Well, everyone apart from the two consultants.

"No thanks," Jane said simply. "I'm still a little shaky."

Everyone turned to Mia as she added, "I have plans."

"Alright," Daniel replied. "I guess the rest of us will have to eat a pizza for both of you."

The two teams all started leaving, all but Lisbon.

"Are you guys sure you don't wanna join us?" Lisbon asked one last time.

"One hundred percent Lisbon." Jane replied with his megawatt smile.

Lisbon seemed as if she wanted to protest, but decided against it as she replied instead, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good evening you two."

The bull pen was once again lonely as the two consultants remained on the couch.

"What plans did you have?" Jane asked as he turned to Mia.

"I was hoping I could have a peaceful evening with a certain blonde." Mia replied with a small smile. "That's if he'll accept my company of course."

"Why wouldn't he?" Jane asked playfully as he leaned over and pecked Mia lightly. "Let's go my love."

Jane and Mia left the bull pen hand in hand and drove to Mia's apartment after picking up some Chinese takeout.

After all the food had been eaten, an old movie had been watched, and a warm bath had been shared, Jane and Mia lay in bed, both seemingly asleep.

At least Mia was asleep, but Jane still lay wide awake, running the events of the evening and the whole day in general through his mind.

Jane's body was tired after the events of the day and making love to Mia, but he still couldn't fall asleep.

He kept thinking about the emotions that had been coursing through him as he had seen Mia with a knife to her throat a few hours earlier. He kept thinking about what he might've done if Mia had been seriously hurt... Or worse. He probably wouldn't have forgiven himself.

Mia sturred in her sleep next to him as she adjusted the sheets on her naked form.

Jane gave a small smile as he realised that he probably wouldn't live if Mia was taken away from him. He would just give up and get rid of himself.

He wasn't sure if he loved her, but he knew that he had some feelings for her. Maybe he didn't love her like Angela, but he still wanted to protect her and say that she was his.

Jane reached over and tucked a piece of hair behind Mia's ear. He leaned over and kissed her neck slowly. Mia hummed in her sleep at the touch of his lips, but she didn't wake up.

Jane stared in awe as he thought about how this angel lying next to him had changed his life in the short period of two months.

He had once sworn that he wouldn't fall in love again and that he wouldn't stop in his quest for Red John. But now, as he looked at his golden band on Mia's finger, he realized that maybe Red John wasn't everything.

He would still fight to find Red John, but maybe he wouldn't kill him.

Maybe he would just let him rot in a cell in prison.

Mia turned and threw her arm over his warm chest as she automatically tangled her legs with his.

Jane wrapped his arms around his precious guardian angel as he breathed in the smell of her shampoo, sweat, and something that was uniquely Mia.

Maybe forgetting about Red John for awhile is just what he needs. He still has a life to live anyway.

For now he's happy to live it with Mia for as long as she wants to keep him around.

xxxxx

Jane was startled from his happy slumber as he heard his cell phone ringing on the table next to him.

Mia groaned as she too was awoken by the shrill ringing of the annoying phone.

"Shh, it's mine," Jane mumbled sleepily. "Go back to sleep."

"Huh, yeah," Mia replied somewhat grumpily. "Tell an insomniac to go back to sleep."

Jane reached over and lifted his cell phone off of the small table and flipped it open.

"Patrick Jane," Jane answered the phone sleepily as he tried to wake himself up.

"Sorry to wake you Jane," Lisbon's familiar voice came over the phone.

"Of course you didn't wake me Lisbon," Jane replied as he pulled Mia's head onto his chest once again. "I was wide awake."

"Whatever," Lisbon said with some amusment in her voice. "We have another case."

"Can't you guys just wait until I get to the office?" Jane asked with a groan as Mia kissed his neck softly.

"I'm afraid not," Lisbon replied and Jane could tell that the mood had changed.

"Why not?" Jane asked, but Lisbon's reply caused his body to stiffen.

Mia realized that something had changed, but waited until Jane had hung up the phone to ask.

"What's wrong?" Mia asked with concern as she sat up in front of Jane.

"The case." Jane mumbled as he too sat up.

"What about it?" Mia asked, worry now evident in her features.

"It's...it's," Jane stuttered.

"It's what?" Mia asked as she put her hand on Jane's cheek.

"It's Red John." Jane replied sadly. "He's struck again."

WOW! Two cliffies in a ROW! As always, please leave a review and let me know what you think!